“Often. It’s why I don’t need to worry about sleeping with men.”

“I did not know normal females did this. Ours don’t. If they need sex, they just find a male to care for them.”

“Normal females?”

He paused. “That isn’t the right word. You aren’t one of the humans who work making videos for sexual stimulation. I thought only they touched themselves to coax males into being interested in sex because they are paid to do so.”

Lauren set the lotion on the floor and tried to hide her surprise at his answer. She wasn’t sure how to respond to that and decided to let it pass. Teenage boys probably didn’t go through as much lotion as Wrath did. She was impressed. Maybe New Species didn’t slow down as they got older. She rubbed her hands together and reached for his hard shaft again.

His smile died and a growl rumbled from his throat. His gaze locked with hers. “Your touch feels so much better than anything I have ever felt.”

She smiled, hoping he meant it. She caressed him from the crown of his c**k to the base, her hands exploring every inch, and watched his expression trying to see what he liked best. More soft growls.

“Faster,” he urged. “Please.”

Lauren tightened her hold on his cock, massaging him faster. She felt his body tense and the flesh in her hands grew thicker. She couldn’t help but stare as the girth of his shaft expanded in her hands. He didn’t get longer but he got noticeably thicker near the base. He growled louder and his body jerked. Lauren managed to put her hand over the crown and warm heat spread across her palm. The guy had strength even with that. She felt pressure as his se**n shot out.

It fascinated her, watching his facial expressions as desire cooled and his body relaxed. He breathed hard, his ni**les were pebbled and once again she deemed him the sexiest guy alive. A tiny bit of pride swelled inside her at getting him off and having him seem to enjoy her touch so much. He smiled when his eyes opened and the look he gave her melted her heart. Tenderness was there and such warmth that she wanted to kiss him.

He suddenly came closer and she held her breath, thinking he might just do that, but his face stopped inches from her own as he reached down to the floor. He grabbed the shirt she’d worn and lifted it. Disappointed, she lowered her gaze to hide it as he gently cleaned her hands of all traces of the lotion and his release.

“I will want you to do that again if you keep touching me.” His voice came out husky, soft, and sensual.

He discarded the shirt, gripped her hips, and she gasped from the shock of his strength as he lifted her. Her hands grabbed his biceps to keep from pitching face first against his chest and he turned her in his arms. Her back hit the mattress and Wrath suddenly released her to grip her thighs. He growled, his gaze dropped to her pu**y and he slid off the bed to bend over it.

Lauren could only gasp as his mouth sought her out, his tongue going right for her clit, and he sucked. She threw her head back, clawed at the bedding just for something to grab and pleasure rolled through her. It felt like an attack of the best sort as his mouth mercilessly drew her to a fast cl**ax.

Wrath released her thighs, slid his hands under her ass and back and lifted, to put her on her side facing away from him. He climbed onto the narrow cot with her, pulled her flush against his big body and made her lift her head to put his arm under it to be her pillow. He spooned her tightly, his other arm hooked around her waist, and his hard c**k found a home in the seam of her thighs. Warm lips nuzzled the side of her neck.

“Is this comfortable for you?”

“You’re turned-on again.”

He chuckled. “I’ll always be hard when you are this close to me. Sleep, Lauren. You are tired and I need rest too.”

Wrath’s body was hotter than hers or maybe she was just still flushed from what he’d done to her. Either way she fell asleep quickly. It had been a long, stressful day but she felt safe in his arms. As she drifted to sleep, Wrath sniffed at her, his hold tightened, and he whispered, “You fit so perfect in my arms and I want to keep you. If my life were different perhaps our time wouldn’t have to be so short.”

* * * * *

Wrath knew when Lauren drifted to sleep—her breathing slowed and her body relaxed against him. Having her in his bed seemed right and she fit perfectly there. The desire to keep her became so strong he had to resist the urge to wrap his body around hers protectively.

His heart rate spiked and his breathing increased when he thought about losing her. It would happen when the team located Bill. She’d be set free and he’d no longer have a reason to keep her with him. She’d be returned to her world where he’d never see her again.

A snarl threatened to surface but he choked it down. She was little and he could easily force her to stay with him. No way could she get away from him if he decided to prevent that from happening. Part of him wished to do just that but the logical side of him rallied against those crazy urges. She deserved her freedom, wasn’t something he could just keep, and she’d grow to hate him if he caged her. He didn’t want that.

A shiver ran through his tall frame at the memory of her hands touching him and he breathed her in. Each slow inhalation through his nose accumulated more of her scent and it seemed to reach his soul. The possessive feelings he suffered were bad. They were wrong. He was damaged inside and this was just more evidence of that fact. No sane male would be considering the things he was.

He’d set her free when they captured Bill. There was no other option. Things between them hadn’t advanced to the point of no return. He’d avoided causing her any harm, something he took pride in, and the apprehension eased from his corded muscles. Lauren wasn’t his to keep. He just needed to remind himself of that often.